Bob Pest
Kin Folks Bar-B-Q, located next to Aunt Minnie’s Yellow House on the Courthouse Square in Mountain View, treats both its customers and its food with great respect. The dining room is cozy and bright; it also tends to fill up, especially at lunchtime and on event weekends, which are frequent in Mountain View. The spacious outdoor deck, comfortably furnished, not only gives diners an option when the weather permits, it also invites them to take in the live folk, bluegrass, and country music being made on the square much of the time.
Kin Folks specializes in chopped pork plates and sandwiches. The meat is finely chopped and cooked to succulent perfection. Regular and hot barbecue sauces are available; the hot sauce, a perfectly balanced mixture of heat and sweetness, packs just the right amount of “kick.” Both the BBQ Pork Sandwich Plate and the BBQ Pork Plate come with a choice of two sides from a selection of French fries, cole slaw, potato salad, and BBQ Beans. The beans are homemade and loaded with onion and green pepper. Pork also takes center stage in Aunt Minnie’s Pig Salad, a favorite among the regulars.
The burgers are equally impressive. Kin Folks offers a variety of selections, including the Open-Face Chili Cheeseburger, a meal in itself. Hot dog lovers of all ages will be impressed with both the size and the flavor of the dogs, available with a variety of toppings. The spicy, plump Polish sausage is also well worth considering. Other popular choices include Fried Bologna, Country Fried Steak, Grilled Chicken, and Chicken Strips.
Four kinds of baked potatoes are available: plain, Chili Cheese stuffed, BBQ stuffed, and Grilled Chicken stuffed. Like everything at Kin Folks, the potatoes are large and cooked perfectly. Fried potatoes show up in the Bean Special, along with pinto beans, Polish sausage, sliced tomatoes, and cornbread. Regular specials supplement the menu. The steak sandwich with grilled onions and peppers rivals much more expensive steak house fare. Chicken and Dumplings also shows up frequently, to the delight of locals and visitors alike. Health conscious diners need not feel left out. Kin Folks offers an ample and well-named Fresh Garden Salad and a Veggie Burger.
Mountain View is a family-friendly town and Kin Folks fits right in. It’s not unusual to see three generations of a family enjoying an afternoon on the deck, sharing fries and debating over which flavor of ice cream to have for dessert. It’s a hard decision with choices that include Butter Pecan, Black Walnut, and Peach Yogurt. Floats and brownies seem to be especially popular with the younger family members.
Kin Folks has recently added breakfast to its line-up. Although I have not had the opportunity to enjoy a morning meal there, I am certain that the breakfast menu items will be fresh, ample, and prepared with care and attention to detail. I have heard a couple of folks mention that chocolate gravy might be on the menu—yum!
Eating at Kin Folks is fun; locals willingly and enthusiastically share information with first time visitors about where to go and what to do; the Courthouse Square provides free music to dine to most weekends; and colorful characters–mostly artists, artisans, and musicians—are likely to be seated at the next table. The Kin Folks staff is congenial, well-informed, and attentive. Prices are surprisingly low, especially given the quality of the food and the size of the servings. Call-in orders are a good idea on busy weekends. Take out is also available. Call 870-269-9188. Tell them you are ready to be fed like kin. You won’t be disappointed.
Kin Folks is open Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11:00 p.m. The restaurant is also open for breakfast Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
For more information on restaurants in the Ozark Gateway Region visit www.ozarkgateway.com or call 1-800-264-0316.
